Chennai, July 19 (Representative) The Phase-2 series of the Tamil Nadu IM Norm Closed Circuit Chess Tournaments will begin here from July 21 to produce more IMs and GMs from TN, the cradle of Chess. Supported by the Tamil Nadu government, a total of ten tournaments would be held in Chennai and Coimbatore from July 21 to October seven. While five tournaments will be held in Chennai from July 21 to August 28, the other five would be held in Coimbatore from August 30 to October 7. Each tournament will be of nine rounds, comprising ten players, likely to be five foreigners and five Indians. Five foreign players who have confirmed their participation are IM Alexander Slizhevsky of Russia (Rating 2384), GM Mikulas Manik of Slovakia (2338), GM AnnageldiyevOrazly of Turkmenistan (2316), WGM Uuriintuya Uurtsaikh of Mongolia (2289) and IM David Gochelashvilli of Russia (2230). Among the Indians, two players will be fielded by the All India Chess Federation (AICF) from the pool of potential candidates from states other than Tamil Nadu and the remaining three players will be from the home state, Tamil Nadu. Tournament Director and Tamil Nadu State Chess Association (TNSCA) General Secretary P Stephen Balasamy said on Friday that according to the technical regulations of the World Chess Federation, FIDE, a player needs to play against at least three International Masters or Grandmasters in a tournament, which was one of the prime conditions to achieve an International Master (IM) Norm in the tournament. Among the nine opponents in the tournament, he/she has to play five titled players like GM/IM/GM/WIM/FM/WFM.
Titles like CM/WCM will not be considered. Minimum four of the opponents of the norm seekers have to be from at least two federations other than India. If a WIM (Woman International Master) participates in the IM norm tournaments, she has chances to get the WGM norm also, besides the IM Norm. Similarly, a WFM having a good rating plays in the tournament, may aim for WIM, WGM as well as IM Norms. Digital boards will be used in all tournaments and the games will be telecast live in prominent chess websites like chess.com, chessbase.com etc. besides AICF and TNSCA websites. Each tournament carries a prize money of 1000 USD (equivalent to Rs 85,000 approximately). The foreign players and any participating Indian IM will be provided with Air Fare, free boarding and lodging, and local transport. The Tamil Nadu IM Norm Closed Circuit Chess Tournaments – Phase 2 series will be inaugurated by J. Meghanatha Reddy, Chief Executive Officer/Member Secretary, Sports Development Authority of Tamil Nadu in the presence of TNSCA President Dr.M. Manickam, AICF Secretary Dev A Patel, and Dronacharya Awardee and Indian Team coach Grandmaster RB Ramesh.